Dates and Post Scheduling

Hello, Friends!

I'm just going to explain this once and for all, so I don't have to keep explaining it. :)

I can schedule posts ahead of time, or "back in time," which means I can schedule them to release on a certain day. This means that, after a long period of time where I've been unable to write posts, a bunch of posts will show up saying they were written a long time beforehand, when really they weren't. I change the dates to what they should be if the post was written on time to keep my records straight. It is not a glitch your browser or my blog has.

Thanks!

Spruce Nogard

Creative Complex: Mud*

Hello, Friends.

Why does mud exist? What are the different uses for mud? (Make them up, real uses, etc.)

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/pig-mud-sow-dirt-wild-nature-2083564/

*Actually posted on June 1st. See here for details.

Extra Week Post: Fairy Tales from Around the World*

Hello, Collectors!

This is an extra week post. For more information, click here. (The second paragraph under the first picture explains extra week posts.)

Previously, I have mentioned a few fairy tale collectors, as well as multiple fairy tales. Now, however, let's continue by talking about fairy tales from around the world.

1) Russian Fairy Tales

Famous for Baba Yaga, the witch who is known to eat human flesh, but has also been known to help others. . . You may have heard of her hut, the hut on chicken legs. I haven't read very many Russian fairy tales, which is something I hope to change. :) You may have also heard of the tale "Ivan and the Firebird," and multiple fairy tales are similar to their counterparts from other countries. Russian fairy tales are wonderful, beautiful, and have their own set of tropes.

2) Norwegian Fairy Tales

I've talked about "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" before, and sadly, that's pretty much the only one I've read. Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe are the two most famous fairy tale collectors of Norwegian fairy tales. As always, I can never have enough fairy tales, so I'll have to start reading Norwegian fairy tales soon. . .

3) Irish Fairy Tales

Irish fairy tales, of course, have the most stories about children getting carried off by fairies. The fairies are a big part of Irish fairy tales, sometimes mischievous, and others more sinister. I know Joseph Jacobs, who collected English fairy tales, also collected some Irish ones, but I'm not sure who else collected Irish fairy tales. I've talked about Irish fairy tales somewhat here, and I included links to Irish fairy tales.

4) Tales of the Arabian Nights

Tales of the Arabian Nights are mostly Middle-Eastern and Indian fairy tales. The main story is the story of Scheherazade, who becomes the wife of the sultan to save other women from suffering the wrath of the Sultan: every night, he marries a new wife, and every morning, he cuts her head off. Scheherazade cleverly asks the sultan if she can tell her son one last story before she dies, but she doesn't tell the whole story. The sultan keeps her alive the next morning so he can hear the rest of the story, then the night after to hear the end of the new tale she's started. . . This continues for 1,001 nights, and this is where the fairy tales come from. It is uncertain which of the tales considered to be from the Tales of the Arabian Nights now were in the original volume, or even if the original volume was complete. Many scholars think multiple authors wrote the Tales because of the variety of styles, traditions, and cultures seen throughout Tales of the Arabian Nights. In any case, these are all wonderful fairy tales, from "Aladdin," to "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves." 

What fairy tales from around the world do you enjoy?

Spruce Nogard

*Actually posted on June 1st. See here for details.

Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Thousand-and-One-Nights

Attributions:

https://www.amazon.com/Russian-Fairy-Illustrated-Alexander-Afanasyev/dp/1908478683/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496436188&sr=1-2&keywords=russian+fairy+tales
https://www.amazon.com/dAulaires-Norwegian-Folktales-Ingri-d-Aulaire/dp/0816699321/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496436381&sr=1-2&keywords=norwegian+fairy+tales
https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Tales-Enchantment-Scotland-Brittany/dp/145215175X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496436559&sr=1-2&keywords=irish+fairy+tales
https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Arabian-Nights-H-Dulcken/dp/089009800X/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496436754&sr=1-12&keywords=tales+of+the+arabian+nights

Topic (Genre) of the Month: Tragic Hero*

Hello, Archetypal Characters.

Today, we are looking at tragic heroes. To not offend anyone and keep this interesting for everyone, we are sticking to fictional characters. I just realized I haven't posted about tragic heroes before. I will devote an entire post to the definition of a tragic hero later. For now, though, a tragic hero is basically someone who could be a traditional hero, but makes the wrong decision and usually dies as a result.

Beware! Spoilers included!

Bellerophon

Bellerophon was sent to accomplish multiple strenuous tasks, and once he came back victorious, received much glory and honor. However, he got increasingly prideful, and decided to fly Pegasus to Mount Olympus. The gods got mad at him because no mortal was as great as a god. So, they sent a fly to sting Pegasus, and Bellerophon got thrown off Pegasus's back, crippled for the rest of his life.

Anakin Skywalker

In the chronological first three Star Wars movies, we meet Anakin Skywalker, a young slave. As Anakin grows up, it is apparent he has great power in the Force, and as a result, has great potential. However, he continually lets his anger get out of control and makes the wrong choice. Eventually, the lure of the Dark Side is too strong for him, and he joins the Dark Side.

Gatsby

Jay Gatsby, in The Great Gatsby is a millionaire, and moves into a mansion near Daisy and Tom Buchanan. The story is told from the viewpoint of Nick Carraway, Daisy's cousin. Daisy and Gatsby dated when they were younger, and Gatsby hopes Daisy will fall in love with him again. They have an affair, and in the end, Gatsby is killed because of this.

Macbeth

Macbeth, from William Shakespeare's Macbeth, starts out as an honorable noble, but when he receives a prophecy he will become king, he kills the king to fulfill the prophecy and makes himself a tyrant. He continues to spiral downward, and is eventually killed.

Who are some tragic heroes you've heard of? Who's your favorite tragic hero?

Spruce Nogard

*Actually posted on June 1st. See here for details.

Source: http://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/2008/9/21/bellerophon-and-pegasus-a-greek-legend

Attributions: 

https://pixabay.com/en/pegasus-rodos-horse-greece-white-1542716/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/star-wars-darth-vader-cult-space-1204193/

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Gatsby-F-Scott-Fitzgerald/dp/0743273567/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496345383&sr=1-1&keywords=the+great+gatsby 

Writing: Creative Complex: Glass Blower's Apprentice*

Hello, Figurines.

You are a glass blower's apprentice. What do you learn? What are you making today?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/chihuly-glass-art-colorful-832834/

*Actually posted on May 31st. See here for details.

On My Mind: My Dream House*

Hello, Dreamers.

Today, I was wondering what your dream house would be like. Even though it's quite unrealistic, imagine what the perfect house (on Earth--we'll save fantasy/dystopian, etc. houses for later) would be.

Mine would have some main parts:

1) Library. I would have a library room, and tons of cats. Some relatives of mine have a library room, and it is one of the most magical places ever. Also, their four cats make the room complete. :)

I always imagine the giant libraries, like in both the Beauty and the Beast movies. Wouldn't it be fun to have that many books?

2) Garden. I would have a giant vegetable garden. Because my dream garden is so big, (and perhaps not doable), I'll have to give it its own post.

3) Cat rooms. I would foster cats, and of course, have my own. I'd have to make sure they all had plenty of space.

4) A cellar, or someplace to hang herbs, and a very big freezer.

5) A few bedrooms, a good-sized kitchen, dining room, and at least one family room.

What does your dream house look like?

Spruce Nogard

*Actually posted on May 31st. See here for details.

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/cat-sweet-kitty-animals-323262/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/life-beauty-scene-library-books-863148/

https://pixabay.com/en/garden-vegetables-produce-2149259/

https://pixabay.com/en/herbs-drying-hanging-kitchen-food-801819/

Recipes: Coffee Cake

Hello, Cooks!

Here's an easy coffee cake recipe I found. It tastes wonderful!

It's from this website: https://lilluna.com/recipe-tip-deal-and-video-of-the-week-quick-coffee-cake/

Quick Coffee Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup oil
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 cup flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup margarine melted

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl. combine oil, eggs, vanilla and milk together.
2. In a medium bowl, blend together sugar, flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Combine egg mixture with flour mixture. Pour half the batter into a 9x13 pan.
4. In a medium bowl, prepare streusel by combining brown sugar and cinnamon.
5. Sprinkle half of streusel on top of the batter. Top with remaining batter and then sprinkle the remaining streusel on top.
6. Drizzle with melted margarine.
7. Bake, uncovered at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Makes 18-24 servings

Enjoy!

*Actually posted on May 31st. See here for details.

Spruce Nogard

Writing: Creative Complex: Uniquity*

Hello, Friends!

Today, pick four settings, 12 mythical creatures/races, four fairy tales or basic plot lines, and 16 magical items.

Examples:

Settings:

• Kingdom in the Sky
• Farm 
• Forest in the ocean
• Cave in a volcano
  

Mythical Creatures/Races:

• Unicorn 
• Griffin
• Mermaid
• Ent
• Elf 
• Dwarf
• Dragon
• Phoenix
• Sphynx
• Witch/Wizard/Sorcerer
• Pegasus
• Sea Serpent

 Fairy Tales:

• Beauty and the Beast
• East of the Sun, West of the Moon
• Ivan and the Firebird
• The Robber Bridegroom

OR

Plot Lines:

• Hero saves Damsel in Distress
• Hero is set impossible tasks
• Heroine saves herself
• Enchantress punishes prideful Character by cursing them

Magical Items:

• Wand
• Tablecloth that gives you whatever you want
• Spinning wheel that spins straw into gold
• Glass hill
• Enchanted rose
• Sack that you can fit anything in
• Invisibility cloak 
• Broomstick
• Enchanted shoes (seven-league boots, shoes that make the wearer dance, flying shoes, etc.)
• Magic mirror
• Poison Apple
• The Devil's golden hairs
• Self-playing harp
• Enchanted key
• Well that turns things into gold
• Staff

Next, write each thing on a notecard. This could take a while, so you can skip it if you want. After you do this, shuffle all the notecards. However, keep each pile separate. Then, randomly draw one of each. Finally, combine all of them to make a story!

Have fun!

Spruce Nogard

*Actually posted on May 31st. See here for details.

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/river-algae-seaweed-river-water-242169/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/phoenix-bird-fire-bright-red-swing-1440452/  

https://pixabay.com/en/polar-bear-bear-animal-nature-snow-404317/

https://pixabay.com/en/key-pendant-iron-2310246/

Dragons: How to Train Your Dragon*

Hello, Friends!

Let's take a little break from our dragon features series and talk about How to Train Your Dragon. This is one of my favorite movies. Why? The awesome music, flying, wonderful message, and, of course, dragons.

First, the awesome music. The How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack is one of my absolute favorite soundtracks, because it sounds like dragons. It sounds like dragons fighting and dragons flying, but still keeps Berk and the vikings in mind. The music perfectly fits the whole setting, scenery, and characters of How to Train Your Dragon. But why are you listening to me talk about it? Go listen to it! (Here's the link.)

Secondly, flying. I have always dreamt of flying, and the music along with the awe-inspiring scenery takes my breath away.

The message. Maybe it's just because I saw the movie first, but I like the movie better than the book. The movie's message is a stronger, needed message, and the characters have more personality, and their personalities are varied. Anyways, let's talk about the message of the movie. The movie is about a young boy who keeps trying to be someone else, someone he's not. He finally finds a friend, in the most unlikely of places, and is determined to keep that friend, despite what everyone else wants him to do, and despite that by refusing to give up his friend, he suffers. He turns the vikings' enemies into their friends.

Finally, the dragons. I mean, there is a whole section of my blog dedicated to dragons. Honestly, what would you expect? Also, the dragons are just so amazing that you're going to have to go watch the movie. (Again.) The vikings have an entire book of dragon species, and they also have some of the coolest dragon species imaginable.

So that's why I love How to Train Your Dragon so much.

(Sorry, no pictures. How to Train Your Dragon is copyrighted.)

Spruce Nogard

*Actually posted on May 31st. See here for details.

Gardening: Sprouts and Runners*

Hello, Friends!

It's good to be writing again!

Today, I just wanted to share a few things that are happening in my (small) garden this year.

1) Sprouts

A few neglected bean pods from last year actually sprouted! They're very cute. :)

2) Runners

As many of you know, mint will take over your garden. I knew this, and didn't plant mint in a pot anyways. Sigh. Surprisingly, though, this year, my oregano did the same. After being a baby plant last year, it started taking over the garden. It also looks very similar to mint. . . and when I looked it up, I discovered they're from the same family. Hurrah! (Or not.)

Can you tell which one's mint and which one's oregano?

How are your gardens doing?

Spruce Nogard

*Even though this post says it was written on May 13th, it was really written on May 31st. I change the dates to what they should be if the post was written on time to keep my records straight. It is not a glitch your browser or my blog has.

Walk 30 Days

Hello, Friends!

A few years ago, Nadine Brandes, author of A Time to Die and the rest of the series, started this thing called Walk 30 Days. Basically, it's a challenge to walk every day in May. I really needed to start exercising, so when I heard about it this year, I was excited. One thing that's suggested is taking pictures and posting them on social media with #walk30days.

Anyways, I took so many pictures today that they would be a pain to put on Twitter, so I decided to put them on On the Breath of a Dragon's Wing instead.

Feel free to share your #walk30days pictures in the comments!

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3: No pictures--sorry!

Day 4:

This is a mom duck and her babies. (Sorry it's hard to see. :) )

Day 5: 

A pretty flowerbed.

Even though creeping charlie is a weed, to see someone's entire lawn covered in tiny purple flowers looks wondrous.

Day 6:

Day 7: 

Day 8:

Day 9: This is more of an auditory one. You see, it was raining, and if you stood still, you could hear the rain against the leaves, and it sounded really quiet and pretty.

Day 10: Sorry, no pictures. :(

Day 11: Isn't spring lovely?

Day 12:

Day 13: Skipped. Oops.

Day 14: No picture. Sorry!

Day 15:

Isn't this plant growing in a tree root cute?

Day 16: Skipped yet again. Ah well.

Day 17: Another skip, but I probably walked just as much as I would on a normal walk while volunteering. :)

Day 18: Beautiful flowers, beautiful sunset. :)

Day 19: 

Day 20: Does running errands count?

Day 21: Missed

Day 22: I always find this tree so fascinating.

Day 31: Sorry! I kind of stopped recording my walks after this point. I walked a lot, missed a few, and have overall improved my health quite a bit! (When I first started walking, my legs would ache every day, but they don't anymore. :) ) Did you do this challenge? What did you like? What didn't you like?

Spruce Nogard

Writing: Creative Complex: Elddir

Hello, Srellet-Elddir.

I know we've done posts about riddles before, but today's is a little different. Today, make up a riddle or a little poem using stressed and unstressed syllables.

Riddles are a little bit like optical illusions. What do you see?

Here are some examples:

• "Be bold, be bold, but not too bold, lest that your heart's blood should run cold." -Mr. Fox
• Link to my post about "Mr. Fox"
• "It is not so, it was not so, and God forbid it should ever be so." -"Mr. Fox" (Also quoted in Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare)
• "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary" -"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe (And the rest of the poem)
• Link to full poem
• "You heard as if an army muttered" -"The Pied Piper of Hamelin" by Robert Browning
• Link to full poem
• "Double, double, toil and trouble;/ Fire burn and cauldron bubble" -Macbeth by Shakespeare
• Here is a link to the Hogwarts Choir singing a song based on the witches' potion in Macbeth

If you can't quite remember stressed and unstressed syllables, see Dragomir's post about them here.

Share your creations in the comments!

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/photos/?q=face+vase&image_type=&cat=&min_width=&min_height=

End of the School Year

Hello, Friends.

Sorry, but I probably won't be posting much for the next few (few as in three) weeks. It's getting toward the end of the school year, and school is getting really busy. I will still update the Walk 30 Days post, because, well, I don't exercise tons and that's a goal I really want to make this month.

I will "make up" the posts in a few weeks when everything calms down, I just don't have time right now.

Thanks so much for all of your patience! :)

Spruce Nogard

Books: Favorites: Inkheart

Hello, Friends!

I haven't read Inkheart for a really long time, so I don't remember it exactly. However, I really like this book.

Inkheart is a book about books. That already makes it amazing, right? Meggie, 12, lives with her father, and her mother disappeared mysteriously when she was young. Both she and her father love books, and when a curious figure shows up at their house who seems to know Meggie's dad, she discovers that, whenever her dad reads out loud, the characters come out of the book. However, this has unexpected repercussions. . .

I loved Inkheart because, like I said earlier, it's a book about books. Also, it's really fun to have characters who love to read just as much as you do. This is kind of a spoiler, but not really: In trying to get characters back into their books, Meggie, her father, and her aunt get trapped in a book, and have to find their way out. Unlike we think, book worlds continue after the story is over, causing some interesting things to happen. . .


I really enjoyed this book, but it's the first of a trilogy. The rest of the trilogy isn't good. It's basically the same thing that happened in the first book over and over and over again.

Have you read this book? What do you like about it?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://www.amazon.com/Inkheart-Trilogy-Cornelia-Funke/dp/0439709105

Books: Fairy Tales: Unusual Mythical Creatures

Hello, Fantastical Beasts!

We recently saw an exhibit about mythical creatures. Some of these creatures were mentioned there, but some weren't.

1) Kraken

Origin: Scandinavian

A kraken is a giant, octopus-like creature that sailors claimed sank ships. It had octopus-like arms, one giant eye, and a beak.

Here are links to pictures (I can't put them actually on my blog because they're copyrighted.):
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/1b/08/78/1b087858e78cc7092331505dd167d0dd.jpg
https://thoryshinwa.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/kraken-03.jpg

2) Roc

Origin: Madagascar/Other East African islands, Tales of the Arabian Nights

A roc is a giant bird that eats elephants. Many accounts of giant roc eggs exist throughout the islands where the roc was said to be found.

Pictures:
http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2015/03/list-6-mythical-monsters-roc-E.jpeg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/52/1c/fd/521cfd972090c9e35a307bc054208aa7.jpg

3) Kappa

Origin: Japanese

A kappa is a Japanese water spirit/creature that sometimes drowns people, and loves cucumbers. Also, it gets its power from water it keeps in its head.

Pictures:
http://i.imgur.com/Fv1o07V.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/30/article-2644036-1E53F56300000578-658_634x286.jpg

Spruce Nogard

Sources:

A Field Guide to Fantastical Beasts by Olento Salaperainen

https://www.britannica.com/topic/roc-legendary-bird 

Writing: Creative Complex: Appeal

Would you rather be able to: fly, run really fast, or breathe underwater? Why?

Today, we are examining appeal. This can also be described as asking the question: "Why?" Why did you choose the answer you did?

Being able to answer this question can tell you a fair bit about yourself. One of the ways this can help you is to figure out problems. If you always react unreasonably to a certain situation, if you know why, you can get to the root of the problem.

In the same way, knowing "Why?" can tell you tons about your characters. If you can figure out why your character did a certain action, you might realize something about them you didn't know before.

So, why did you choose your answer?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: 

https://pixabay.com/en/runner-track-athlete-relay-race-1544448/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/fish-underwater-diving-water-378286/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/plane-window-window-seat-view-view-2152402/ 

Mental Library: Lenses: Historical

Hello, Historians!

Today, we are talking about the Historical Lens.

The historical lens looks at the events that were taking place in history when the book was written and sees if those events influenced the book.

For example, we are going to use The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss. (To continue our theme of using children's books to illustrate lenses.)

Here is a link to the full book with pictures if you would like: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7jXFQxsH7wNMi1ZSHZ3MEkxcjg/edit

If you would rather, here's the summary. However, be warned; Dr. Seuss books in summary never sound nearly as interesting or as good as they actually are. I mean, what children's book does?

Yooks live on one side of the wall, and eat their bread with butter-side-up. Zooks live on the other side of the wall and eat their bread with butter-side-down. Because of this, they hate each other, and always have guards at the wall watching the other side. A Zook breaks a Yook's weapon, and they each go back and get bigger and bigger weapons. The book ends with them both standing on the wall threatening to drop a terrible bomb on the other side.

In order to analyze this book historically, we need to know when it was written: 1984.

We can see, then, that the Cold War and arms race was happening. Suddenly the book makes a lot more sense, right?

It basically shows everyone how silly it is to keep getting bigger weapons and threatening each other, especially over such a stupid thing. So, what is Dr. Seuss trying to say about the Cold War/arms race?

This is a fairly common example of the historical lens, and I remember hearing it somewhere. Obviously, people have thought of this before.

The Butter Battle Book is a really simple, straightforward example, but not all books are. You can look at how the history of the time period influenced the writing, setting, characters, etc. Some books you may have to really look for the historical influence to find it.

What books have you read that would be easy to analyze through the historical lens? What books would be hard?

Spruce Nogard

Sources:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7jXFQxsH7wNMi1ZSHZ3MEkxcjg/edit

http://www.historytoday.com/john-swift/soviet-american-arms-race

Attributions: https://www.amazon.com/Butter-Battle-Book-Notable-Classic/dp/0394865804